Photo supplied by Office of Leslyn Lewis
Haldimand—Norfolk MP Leslyn Lewis is highlighting what she sees as the changing role of accountants as artificial intelligence becomes more widely used by businesses and governments.
In an article published in Professional Accountant Magazine, Lewis, who is the Conservative Shadow Minister for Digital Government and Artificial Intelligence, argues that the increasing use of AI will make professional judgment, accountability and trust increasingly important.
Lewis says artificial intelligence is already transforming businesses and professions, while small and medium-sized businesses face the added complexity of determining when and how to use the technology.
She argues that accountants can play an important role in helping businesses navigate those decisions, including strengthening governance, managing risk, evaluating internal controls and overseeing the use of AI-generated information.
According to Lewis, the accounting profession’s role could increasingly move away from routine tasks that can be automated and toward helping clients understand and question information produced by artificial intelligence.
She also argues that AI cannot replace what she describes as the human responsibilities of professional judgment, ethical decision-making and accountability.
Lewis extends that argument to government, saying Canadians should know when artificial intelligence is being used to support decisions that affect them.
She says Canadians should also have information about how those systems operate, what safeguards are in place to protect personal information and what avenues exist to review decisions produced with the assistance of automated systems.
Lewis argues that meaningful human oversight should remain part of significant automated decisions and that those decisions should be subject to independent review.
The MP also points to implications for the education and training of future accountants.
She says accountants will need to understand the digital systems increasingly being used in their profession, while also being able to question AI systems, identify potential failures and challenge automated outcomes when necessary.
Lewis concludes that while technology may change how accounting and other professions operate, she believes trust, transparency, accountability and independent judgment will remain important foundations of the economy.
